A Lot to Like...

We had the annual Anderson Family reunion this past weekend. It was held in a park outside of Tumwater. It was a great Saturday, mild and no rain. Several of our west side reunions were met with some raindrops but thankfully not this year.

There was a funny moment for several of us. I was standing with two of my oldest brothers and three cousins who are about ten years older than me. I looked at them and said, “You realize that I’m the only one in this group who is still working!” To which one of my cousins said, “Kind of like the rest of the country, one in six actually going to work!”

There were a lot of laughs on Saturday as usual. We approach each reunion with the thought, ‘We hope everyone one shows up but we’ll have fun whoever shows up’ and we always do.

On Sunday, brother Don, brother Larry and I went to Safeco Field to watch the Mariners and Boston Red Sox play. Our nephew Dan and his wife Maureen were with us and it was a great time. It was Don’s first time at Safeco and I know we were hoping the game was going to be competitive and not a Red Sox rout. There were well over 43,000 people in attendance and I swear half of them were Red Sox fans.

Sunday turned out to be a great afternoon with the roof wide open and the sun shining. With a young team one never knows who might step up and make plays or get a timely hit. And with the ageless knuckle ball throwing Tim Wakefield pitching for Boston it can be hard to predict how the youngsters would approach their at bats.

The potent Boston batting lineup could also be difficult for one of the newest Mariners, Charlie Furbush. Furbush pitched a great game and held the Red Sox to one run in seven innings of work limiting the Red Sox to four hits, not an easy task. The defense behind Furbush was exceptional with key plays made by Jack Wilson, Kyle Seager and Ichiro.

Along with the great pitching was some timely hitting. Mike Carp has been hitting well and knocked in a run as did Dustin Ackley who has been impressive as a second baseman. Jack Wilson has done an admirable job coming off the bench and filling in for Brendan Ryan. Early this season I thought Wilson’s time with the Mariners should come to a close but he certainly has played a lot better and earned his time on the field and has made it pay off.

Larry brought his camera and I told him that he needed to take a picture of Casper Wells before he hits a home run. Well he didn’t and of course Wells hit a home run into the seats in left field. Oh well, you can only make the suggestion and hope they listen.

The Mariners would hold on for a 5-3 win on Sunday and Brandon League chalked up his 29th save for the season and he looked good doing it. He battled Jared Saltalmacchia in a long battle until the Red Sox catcher lined out to Franklin Gutierrez for the final out and the Seattle faithful left with smiles on their faces and the Red Sox fans still knew their team was in first place in the American League east.

What we saw on Sunday was a great baseball game and real hope for the Mariners’ future. I think it is important to go to a game and not worry about records and positions in the standings. Hope for a good ball game and more often than not that is exactly what you’ll get. There was a lot to like about Sunday. Family and baseball, it just doesn’t get any better than that!